Many of you parents out there now about Elf on the Shelf...I first heard about it several years ago - before my kids were around - from a co-worker. It is the best tradition. This year Grandma and Tom got the boys our very own Elf on the Shelf. For those that aren't aware, the premise is that the Elf - who you have to name upon receipt - comes to your house for the holidays and watches children's behavior and reports back to Santa each night. And since the Elf leaves every night at bedtime to fly to the North Pole he moves about the house and "hides" in new places each day. The first thing that Hatcher does every morning is goes on a search for Elvin the Elf. Elvin has also served as an incentive and reminder that "Santa is watching you and you best be good at all times - which includes sleeping in your big boy beds all night long". HA - works like a charm for Hatcher - not so much for Aidan. Aidan could care less...some days he takes part in the search for Elvin's whereabouts each morning...but most he doesn't.
It has been a fun new tradition. We have enjoyed "looking" for Elvin too - although one night Elvin didn't move - and Derek told Hatcher that it was just terrible weather and Elvin felt it best not to try and fly in the bad storms. Quick thinking Derek...HA!
Below are pictures of when the boys first read the book with Derek all the way through and also of one of Elvin's hiding places. Elvin has also been in the tree, on the mantle, on a joy ride with Elmo on the kids' 4-wheeler, on the wall art, passed out in the Christmas ornament box of unused red and silver balls, on top of the grandmother clock...wonder where he will turn up next!
I wanted to resurrect mine and Derek's tradition of making chocolate covered treats. But, Derek isn't too keen on the idea. So I talked the boys into helping. They loved covering pretzels in chocolate. They had a blast. So...if all goes well - we will be making boatloads for the holidays. If they don't eat it all first!
